A mother of one has died after travelling approximately 1,300 miles from New York to Florida to undergo cosmetic surgery at a clinic in Miami.
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Jennifer Arias reportedly travelled to New Life Plastic Surgery for liposuction on August 13, despite her mother pleading with her not to undergo the procedure.
Sadly, hours after the operation, her family received devastating news that Jennifer was struggling to breathe. She was rushed to HCA Florida Kendall Hospital, where doctors tried to save her life, but she later died.
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The Miami-Dade Medical Examiner’s Office ruled her death an accident, stating that she suffered fat embolisms in both lungs following the surgeries.
Jennifer’s mother, Monica Arias, revealed that she had tried to persuade her daughter to reconsider the procedure because she feared her seven-year-old granddaughter could lose her mother.
Recalling their conversation, Monica said: “I told her, don’t do it, don’t do it.
“If something happens to you, what will happen to your daughter?”
Jennifer’s sister, Erika Arias, also spoke about the heartbreaking experience, revealing that she received a text message from her sister at 4:18 a.m. on the day of the operation, informing her that she was heading into surgery.
However, hours later, the family received the devastating news of Jennifer’s death.
According to the family, the surgeon, Julio Clavijo-Alvarez, told them that everything possible had been done to save her. By the time they arrived in Miami, Jennifer had already died.
Speaking about the loss, Erika said: “I couldn’t believe it. That’s my sister. That’s my best friend,
“She was a great mother. She definitely loved her child so much, so deeply”
Her mother, Monica, also expressed her pain over the loss, saying: “No one will ever be able to give her a mother’s love. My granddaughter has been left without that.”
Following Jennifer’s death, an investigation by local media reportedly found that she was at least the sixth patient to die following surgery at New Life Plastic Surgery since 2018. The investigation reviewed civil lawsuits and state and county records.
One of the previous cases involved 41-year-old Naimy Sucetz, who died in 2022 after undergoing liposuction and a tummy tuck at the same clinic. Her death was attributed to a blood clot in her lungs, and Clavijo-Alvarez was also her surgeon.
The surgeon has faced at least four lawsuits since 2020 in which plaintiffs alleged that inadequate medical care caused injuries or complications. He denied the allegations in court documents.
In 2024, Florida’s medical board reprimanded him and imposed a $15,000 (£11,200) fine to resolve three administrative complaints. Under the agreement, he neither admitted nor denied the allegations.
Meanwhile, New Life Plastic Surgery has denied responsibility in court filings relating to two previous patient deaths, arguing in part that the doctors involved were independent contractors.